Blade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with Sheath

Blade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with Sheath

Munemichi

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The use of spears became increasingly common during the late Muromachi period (1392–1573), a time of near-constant military conflict. Stabbing weapons to be used on foot, they typically measured around seven feet in length, allowing for maneuverability in close quarters. Spearheads varied in size and shape; this example is of a type with a cruciform structure. The sheath bears the crest (mon) of Matsudaira, a branch of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Blade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with SheathBlade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with SheathBlade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with SheathBlade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with SheathBlade for a Spear (<i>Jūmonji-yari</i>) with Sheath

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.